CHICAGO — After an Uber driver allegedly raped an intoxicated woman he picked up last month, the ride-sharing company offered safety reminders for both passengers and drivers.
Maxime Fohounhedo, 30, of the 4400 block of North Lawndale Avenue, was charged with criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse after he allegedly picked up a woman who passed out in his car and sexually assaulted her. He was ordered held on $500,000 bail earlier this week.
Uber did not perform a background check on Fohounhedo, since he was driving under his wife's account, Uber spokeswoman Jennifer Mullin said. The company has since released guidelines for keeping riders safe and drivers accountable.
"We are also working to improve communications with our riders and drivers because we care about the Chicagoans who put their trust in us every day," Mullin said. "The Uber Chicago safety checklist is part of that effort and was developed to ensure the safety features that are already built into the app are being fully utilized."
Among the guidelines for riders are confirming that the license plate number of the car matches the one delivered to customers through the Uber app, and confirming the name and picture of the driver riders see on the app matches that of the person driving the car that picks them up.
In a blog post, Uber stated that riders can share their route with friends or loved ones using a feature called Share My ETA.
In an email to drivers, Uber stated account sharing "is strictly prohibited." Further, it reminded Uber drivers not to pick up riders hailing a ride and to confirm the correct rider is getting in the car.
Once Uber learned of the allegations against Fohounhedo, the company said it "immediately removed the driver from the Uber platform."
"This is an appalling and unacceptable incident, and first and foremost our thoughts are with the victim and her family," stated Mullin, the Uber spokeswoman. "We immediately removed the driver from the Uber platform when we learned of the reported incident and are cooperating fully with law enforcement. We stand ready to assist them however we can to hold the perpetrator accountable. "
Mullin said the company's stringent background checks have "prevented tens-of-thousands of potential drivers from gaining access to the Uber platform."
The background checks inclues a search of local, state and federal databases and the sex offender registry.
Contributing: Tanveer Ali
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